Heat dissipation apparatus having a fan received therein

ABSTRACT

A heat dissipation apparatus includes a heat sink and a fan. The heat sink defines a recessed space at a center of a top end thereof, and an engaging groove in an inner circumference of the top end of the heat sink surrounding and communicating with the space. The fan includes a frame and an impeller assembled to the frame. A plurality of legs extends downwardly from the frame. Each of the legs includes a hook at a free end thereof. The hooks of the legs engage in the engaging groove of the heat sink for securely mounting the fan in the recessed space of the heat sink. Heat pipes extend through the heat sink and connect with a base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a co-pending application entitled “HEATDISSIPATION APPARATUS HAVING HEAT PIPES INSERTED THEREIN” (attorneydocket number US 20113), assigned to the same assignee of thisapplication and filed on the same date. The disclosure of the co-pendingapplication is wholly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to heat dissipation, and particularlyto a heat dissipation apparatus utilizing a fan for dissipating heatgenerated by electronic components.

2. Description of Related Art

It is well known that if heat generated by electronic components, suchas integrated circuit chips, during operation is not efficientlydissipated, these electronic components may suffer damage. Thus, heatdissipation apparatuses are often used to cool the electroniccomponents.

A typical heat dissipation apparatus includes a heat sink and a fan. Theheat sink is thermally connected with a heat generating electroniccomponent. The fan is mounted on the heat sink via a plurality ofscrews. During operation, heat generated by the heat generatingelectronic component is transferred to the heat sink. The fan producesan airflow towards the heat sink to dissipate the heat therefrom.

However, in the heat dissipation apparatus, the fan is assembled to theheat sink via the plurality of screws, which complicates the assembly ofthe heat dissipation apparatus.

What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation apparatus whichovercomes the above-described limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present heat dissipation apparatus can be betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings. The components inthe drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis insteadbeing placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosedheat dissipation apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a heat dissipation apparatusin accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the heat dissipation apparatusof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing a heat pipe assembly assembled to abase of the heat dissipation apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a first fin assembly of the heatdissipation apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a second fin assembly of the heatdissipation apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a fan of the heat dissipation apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing a pair of first fin assemblies asshown in FIG. 4 assembled to the heat pipe assembly of the heatdissipation apparatus of FIG. 1, and a pair of second fin assembliesdisassembled from the heat pipe assembly.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view showing a heat conductive core assembled tothe heat dissipation apparatus of FIG. 7, and the fan of FIG. 7disassembled from the heat dissipation apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat dissipation apparatus in accordancewith a first embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The heat dissipationapparatus includes a base 10, a heat sink 30, a heat pipe assembly 20thermally connecting the base 10 with the heat sink 30, a cylindricalheat conductive core 40 received in the heat sink 30, and a fan 50mounted in a top of the heat sink 30.

The base 10 is a metal plate, and has a high heat conductivity.Preferably, the base 10 is made of copper. The base 10 thermallyconnects with a heat generating electronic component at a bottom surfacethereof, and attaches to the heat pipe assembly 20 at a top surfacethereof. A number of grooves 11 are defined in the top surface of thebase 10 for accommodating the heat pipe assembly 20. In this embodiment,the base 10 defines four parallel grooves 11 thereon. A securing arm 12extending outwardly from each corner of the base 10 defines a securinghole 13 therein for assembly of the heat dissipation apparatus to acircuit board on which the electronic component is mounted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the heat pipe assembly 20 includes a pair of firstheat pipes 21 and a pair of second heat pipes 23. Each of the first heatpipes 21 is bent to have an evaporation section 211, a condensationsection 212, and an adiabatic section 213 interconnecting theevaporation section 211 and the condensation section 212. Theevaporation section 211 of each of the first heat pipes 21 is straightand flat, and is mounted in one groove 11 of the top surface of the base10. The adiabatic section 213 extends upwardly and slantwise from oneend of the evaporation section 211. The condensation section 212 issubstantially semicircular, and extends from a free end of the adiabaticsection 213 along an anticlockwise direction. The evaporation sections211 of the first heat pipes 21 are arranged in the outmost two grooves11, the adiabatic sections 213 are located at two opposite sides of thebase 10, and the condensation sections 212 are approximately at the samelevel and cooperatively form a circle.

The second heat pipes 23 are similar to the first heat pipes 21, witheach also including an evaporation section 231, a condensation section232, and an adiabatic section 233 interconnecting the evaporationsection 231 and the condensation section 232. The evaporation sections231 of the second heat pipes 23 are arranged in the middle two grooves11 of the base 10. A free end of the adiabatic section 233 of eachsecond heat pipe 23 is lower than that of each first heat pipe 21. Thecondensation sections 232 of the second heat pipes 23 are at the samelevel, and lower than the condensation sections 212 of the first heatpipes 21. Similarly, the condensation sections 232 of the second heatpipes 23 cooperatively form a circle. A plane defined by thecondensation sections 232 of the second heat pipes 23 is parallel to aplane defined by the condensation sections 212 of the first heat pipes21.

The heat sink 30 is annular, and includes a pair of first fin assemblies31 and a pair of second fin assemblies 33.

Referring to FIG. 4, each of the first fin assemblies 31 is sectorial,and includes a plurality of stacked first fins 311. An air channel 312is defined between every two adjacent first fins 311. Each of the firstfins 311 includes a rectangular main body 313 and an extension arm 314extending upwardly from an outer side of the main body 313.

The main body 313 defines a first receiving hole 315 and a secondreceiving hole 316 below the first receiving hole 315. All the firstreceiving holes 315 of the first fins 311 cooperatively form an arcuatefirst receiving groove 325 of the first fin assembly 31, for receivingthe condensation section 212 of the first heat pipe 21 therein. All thesecond receiving holes 316 of the first fins 311 cooperatively form asecond receiving groove 326 of the first fin assembly 31, for receivingthe condensation section 232 of the second heat pipe 23 therein. Themain body 313 further defines two up-slantwise adding grooves 317communicating with the first and second receiving holes 315, 316,respectively, whereby solders can be conveniently added through theadding grooves 317 when the first and second heat pipes 21, 23 aresoldered onto the first fin assembly 31.

The extension arm 314 forms a step portion 318 and defines an engaginggroove 319 at an inner side thereof. A width of the extension arm 314below the step portion 318 is greater than a width of the extension arm314 above the step portion 318. A step flange 320 extendsperpendicularly out from the step portion 318. The engaging groove 319is wedgy, and located below the step portion 318. The engaging groove319 and the step portion 318 are used to secure the fan 50 onto the heatsink 30. The extension arm 314 forms perpendicularly out an airflowpressure flange 321 at an outer side thereof, for increasing an airflowpressure of the fan 50.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second fin assemblies 33 are similar to thefirst fin assemblies 31, with each also being sectorial, and including aplurality of stacked second fins 331. An air channel 332 is definedbetween every two adjacent second fins 331. Each of the second fins 331includes a main body 333 and an extension arm 334. The extension arm 334is the same as the extension arm 314 of the first fin 311, alsoincluding a step portion 338, an engaging groove 339, a step flange 340and an airflow pressure flange 341. The difference between the secondfin assemblies 33 and the first fin assemblies 31 is that the main body333 of the second fin 331 is substantially triangular, and thus definesa cutout 344 at an outer-down side thereof. In addition, the main body333 defines only one receiving hole 335 therein aligning with the firstreceiving hole 315 of the first fin 311. The receiving hole 335 is incommunication with the cutout 344. All the receiving holes 335 of thesecond fins 331 cooperatively form an arcuate receiving groove 345 ofthe second fin assembly 33, for receiving the condensation section 212of the first heat pipe 21 therein. All the cutouts 344 of the secondfins 331 cooperatively form an opening 347 of the second fin assembly33, such that the first heat pipe 21 can be put into the receivinggroove 345 therefrom conveniently.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fan 50 includes a frame 51 and an impeller 52mounted on the frame 51. The frame 51 includes a holder 511 at a centerthereof, a rim 512 at an outer periphery thereof, and a plurality ofribs 513 connecting the holder 511 with the rim 512. The holder 511 isused to support the impeller 52. The rim 512 is annular, and extendsperpendicularly and downwardly out a plurality of legs 514. The legs 514are evenly arranged on the rim 512. A hook 515 extends radially out froma free end of each leg 514. The hook 515 matches with the engaginggrooves 319, 339 of the first and second fin assemblies 31, 33, formounting the fan 50 into the heat sink 30.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, during assembly of the heat dissipationapparatus, the first fin assemblies 31 are oriented face to face, andspace from each other. The condensation sections 212 of the pair of thefirst heat pipes 21 are inserted into the first receiving grooves 325 ofthe first fin assemblies 31 along two opposite orientations,respectively. The condensation sections 232 of the pair of the secondheat pipes 23 are inserted into the second receiving grooves 326 of thefirst fin assemblies 31 along two opposite orientations, respectively. Afree end of each condensation section 212, 232 protrudes out of acorresponding first fin assembly 31. The first fin assemblies 31, andthe first and second heat pipes 21, 23 are arranged on the base 10, withthe evaporation sections 211, 231 of the first and second heat pipes 21,23 received in the grooves 11 of the base 10.

The second fin assemblies 33 are inserted into spaces between the firstfin assemblies 31 from top to bottom, respectively. The free end of eachcondensation section 212 of the first heat pipes 21 enters into and isreceived in the receiving groove 345 through the opening 347 of thesecond fin assembly 33. The free end of each condensation section 232 ofthe second heat pipes 23, and the adiabatic section 213, 233 of eachfirst and second heat pipe 21, 23 are received in the opening 347. Atthis time, the first fin assemblies 31 and the second fin assemblies 33are staggered with each other, and cooperatively form the annular heatsink 30. All the step portions 318, 338 of the first and second finassemblies 31, 33 cooperatively form an annular step 35 of the heat sink30. All the step flanges 320, 340 of the first and second fin assemblies31, 33 cooperatively form an annular and horizontal step flange 36 ofthe heat sink 30. All the engaging grooves 319, 339 of the first andsecond fin assemblies 31, 33 cooperatively form an annular engaginggroove 37 of the heat sink 30. All the airflow pressure flanges 321, 341of the first and second fin assemblies 31, 33 cooperatively form anannular airflow pressure flange 38 of the heat sink 30.

The heat conductive core 40 is enclosed by the first and second finassemblies 31, 33. The heat conductive core 40 attaches to theevaporation sections 211, 231 of the first and second heat pipes 21, 23at a bottom surface thereof, and attaches to inner surfaces of the firstand second fin assemblies 31, 33 at a side surface thereof. The firstand second fins 311, 331 of the first and second fin assemblies 31, 33extend out from the heat conductive core 40 in a radial pattern. Themain bodies 313, 333 and the extension arms 314, 334 of the first andsecond fin assemblies 31, 33, and the heat conductive core 40cooperatively form a recessed space 39 at a top end of the heat sink 30.The annular step 35 and the annular step flange 36 are located in thespace 39. The annular engaging groove 37 communicates with the space 39.

The fan 50 is aligned with and pressed into the space 39, with the hooks515 of the legs 514 of the fan 50 engaged into the engaging groove 37,for mounting the fan 50 in the heat sink 30. At this time, bottom andside surfaces of the rim 512 of the fan 50 abuts the annular step flange36 and an inner side of the heat sink 30, respectively. The impeller 52is received in the space 39.

During operation of the heat dissipation apparatus, the base 10 absorbsheat from the heat generating electronic component, which is transferredto the heat sink 30 via the heat conductive core 40 and the heat pipeassembly 20. The fan 50 produces airflow toward the heat sink 30, anddissipates heat from the heat sink 30 into ambient air.

In the heat dissipation apparatus, since the heat sink 30 includes apair of first fin assemblies 31 and a pair of second fin assemblies 33,the heat pipe assembly 20 can be assembled into the first and second finassemblies 31, 33 successively. Thus, the heat dissipation apparatus isconveniently assembled even though the first and second heat pipes 21,23 are bent to form a plurality of sections. In addition, a part of heatfrom the heat generating electronic component is transferred to the heatsink 30 via the heat conductive core 40 from a middle of the heat sink30, and another part of heat is transferred to the heat sink 30 via theheat pipe assembly 20 from an outer peripheral portion of the heat sink30. Thus, the heat is evenly distributed on the heat sink 30, and heatdissipation efficiency of the heat dissipation apparatus is improved.Furthermore, the fan 50 is mounted in the space 39 of the heat sink 30,and the impeller 52 is enclosed by the heat sink 30, which makes themost of the cool airflow produced by the fan 50 flow through the firstand second fins 311, 331. Meanwhile, the heat sink 30 enclosing the fan50 severs as a sidewall of the typical fan, which saves material of thefan 50 and increases pressure of the airflow produced by the fan 50. Theannular airflow pressure flange 38 further increases the pressure of theairflow. Moreover, the heat sink 30 includes the step 35 and theengaging groove 37, and the fan 50 includes the rim 512 and the legs 514with hooks 515. Thus, additional screws are not required to steadilymount the fan 50 on the heat sink 30, which simplifies structure of theheat dissipation apparatus. The first and second fins 311, 331 of thefirst and second fin assemblies 31, 33 extend out from the heatconductive core 40 in a radial pattern. The airflow produced by the fan50 is easily guided toward other heat generating electronic componentsaround the heat sink 30 through the airflow channels 312, 332 betweenthe first and second fins 311, 331. Thus, the heat dissipation apparatusnot only takes heat away from the heat sink 30, but also dissipates heatfrom the heat generating electronic components around the heat sink 30.

It is believed that the disclosure and its advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, theexamples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplaryembodiments of the invention.

1. A heat dissipation apparatus, comprising: a heat sink defining arecessed space at a center of a top end thereof, an inner circumferencesurrounding the recessed space, and an engaging groove in the innercircumference of the top end of the heat sink and communicating with therecessed space; and a fan comprising a frame and an impeller assembledto the frame, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the frame,each of the legs comprising a hook at a free end thereof, the hooks ofthe legs engaging in the engaging groove of the heat sink for securelymounting the fan in the recessed space of the heat sink.
 2. The heatdissipation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an annularrim from which the legs are extended downwardly, the heat sink forming astep in the space, the rim sitting on the step.
 3. The heat dissipationapparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat sink comprises a stackedplurality of fins and forms an annular structure, an air channel beingdefined between every two adjacent fins, the fins having step portions,respectively, which cooperatively form the step of the heat sink, a stepflange extending perpendicularly and horizontally from a correspondingstep portion of each of the fins to an adjacent fin, the step flanges ofthe fins cooperatively forming an annular step flange, the rim sittingon the annular step flange.
 4. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim1, wherein the heat sink comprises a stacked plurality of fins and formsan annular structure, an air channel being defined between every twoadjacent fins, each of the fins comprising a main body and an extensionarm extending upwardly from an outer side of the main body, the spacebeing defined between the main bodies and the extension arms of thefins, the engaging groove being defined in the extension arms of thefins.
 5. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 4, wherein theextension arm of each of the fins extends outwardly an airflow pressureflange towards an adjacent fin, the airflow pressure flanges of the finscooperatively forming an annular airflow pressure flange.
 6. The heatdissipation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a pairof first fin assemblies staggered with a pair of second fin assemblies,the first and second fin assemblies cooperatively forming an annularstructure, the engaging groove being defined in at least one of thefirst and second fin assemblies.
 7. The heat dissipation apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein a heat conductive core is enclosed by the first andsecond fin assemblies, the heat conductive core attaching to innersurfaces of the first and second fin assemblies at an outercircumferential surface thereof.
 8. The heat dissipation apparatus ofclaim 6, further comprising a pair of first heat pipes and a pair ofsecond heat pipes, each of the first and second heat pipes comprising anevaporation section and a condensation section, each of the first finassemblies comprising a first receiving groove and a second receivinggroove, each of the second fin assemblies comprising a receiving grooveand an opening communicating with the receiving groove, a portion of thecondensation section of each of the first heat pipes being inserted intothe first receiving groove of each of the first fin assemblies, anotherportion of the condensation section of each of the first heat pipesbeing received in the receiving groove of each of the second finassemblies through the opening, a portion of the condensation section ofeach of the second heat pipes being inserted into the second receivinggroove of each of the first fin assemblies, another portion of thecondensation section of each of the second heat pipes being received inthe opening.
 9. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 8, wherein thecondensation sections of the second heat pipes are inserted into thefirst fin assemblies along two opposite orientations, respectively, thecondensation sections of the first heat pipes cooperatively forming acircle, the condensation sections of the second heat pipes cooperativelyforming a circle.
 10. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 8, whereineach of the first heat pipes further comprises an adiabatic sectioninterconnecting the evaporation section and the condensation sectionthereof, each of the second heat pipes further comprising an adiabaticsection interconnecting the evaporation section and the condensationsection thereof, the condensation sections of the first heat pipes beinghigher than the condensation sections of the second heat pipes.
 11. Theheat dissipation apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the first finassemblies further defines two up-slantwise adding grooves communicatingwith the first and second receiving grooves thereof, respectively.
 12. Aheat dissipation apparatus, comprising: a heat sink comprising aplurality of radial fins, each of the fins comprising a main body and anextension arm extending upwardly from an outer side of the main body,the main bodies and the extension arms of the fins cooperatively forminga space therebetween, the extension arms of the fins defining anengaging groove communicating with the space; and a fan comprising aframe and an impeller mounted on the frame, the frame extendingdownwardly out a plurality of legs, each of the legs comprising a hookat a free end thereof, the hook engaging in the engaging groove of theheat sink for securely mounting the fan in the space of the heat sink.13. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the finscomprise a plurality of first fins and a plurality of second fins, thefirst fins being stacked together to cooperatively form a pair of firstfin assemblies, the second fins being stacked together to cooperativelyform a pair of second fin assemblies, the first fin assembliesstaggering with the second fin assemblies to form an annular structure.14. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the framecomprises an annular rim from which the legs are extended downwardly,the extension arms of the fins together forming a step in the space, therim abutting the step.
 15. The heat dissipation apparatus of claim 12,wherein the extension arms of the fins extend outwardly an annularairflow pressure flange around the fan.